Classification of Acids according to its strength ( degree of ionization ) , Its source and Basicity

Acids can be classified according to its strength ( degree of ionization ) , Its source and Basicity , Acids are classified according to its degree of ionization in the aqueous solution into Strong acids and weak acids .

Classification of acids according to its strength ( degree of ionization )

Strong acids

The acids which are completely ionized inthe water , Their aqueous solution conductsthe electric currentto a large degree, They are considered as strong electrolytes .

There is no relation between the strength of the acid and the number of the hydrogen atoms in its molecular structure , Phosphoric acid ( H3PO4 ) is weaker than nitric acid ( HNO3 ) , although it contains greater number of hydrogen atoms .

CH3COOH( aq ) + H2 O ( l ) ↔ CH3COO−( aq ) + H3O+(aq)

Hydrochloric acid HCl is stronger than acetic acid because HCl is completely ionized in the water , but acetic acid is partially ionized inthe water.

HCl ( aq ) + H2 O ( l ) →Cl− ( aq ) + H3O+(aq)

Acids

Classification of acids according to their sources

Acids are classified according to their sources ( origin ) into Organic acids and Mineral acids

Organic acids

Acids that have an organic origin ( plant or animal ) , They are extracted from the organs of living organisms , All of them are weak acids .

Tribasic acids ( Triprotic )

Both of citric acid and phosphoric acid have the same degree of basicity, while they differ in their source ( origin), Because both of them are tribasic acids , but citric acid is an organic acid, while phosphoric acid is a mineral acid.